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Socio-Demographic Parameters Influence Contact Allergies

German researchers suggest that this condition affects approximately 28 percent of the general adult population. They found the most common reactions were to fragrance mix (11.4 percent), nickel (9.9 percent) and thimersol (3.2 percent).

Investigators tested the prevalence of contact sensitisation in a population-based, nested case-control study. They examined associations between contact allergies and socio-demographic and medical characteristics in 1,141 adults. Median age of participants was 50 years, and 50.4 percent were women.

Researchers did patch tests for 25 standard allergens, dermatological exams, blood analysis and interviewed each participant.

"At least one positive reaction was exhibited by 40.0 percent of the subjects," they report.

"Women (50.2 percent) were sensitised more often than men (29.9 percent), and this was also significant for fragrance mix, nickel, turpentine, cobalt chloride and thimersol.

"Contact sensitisation was more frequent in subjects who reported adverse skin reactions. This was particularly true for sensitisation to nickel and fragrance mix and the corresponding intolerance of fashion jewelry and fragrances."

Investigators point out that contact sensitisation decreased with more occupational training: unskilled, 45.9 percent; apprenticeship, 40.1 percent; technical college, 40.4 percent; school of engineering 12.5 percent.

They concluded: "Frequency estimates for the general adult population, based on these findings, was 28.0 percent for overall contact sensitisation."

The investigators for this study were from the Technical University of Munich and the National Research Centre for Environment and Health in Neuherberg, Germany.
Allergy, 2001: 56: 1192-1196. "Epidemiology of contact allergy in adults"

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